How to Care for a Brow Lamination

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: February 16, 2022 References

You've got the full, defined brows of your dreams, so how do you keep them looking great? Since the lamination process basically perms your brows in place, there's actually not a lot for you to do. The most important thing is to keep your styled brows dry for the first 24 hours. After that, you just need to keep them conditioned and brush them. With a little care, your brows can look great for up to 8 weeks!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Aftercare

1
Keep your eyebrows completely dry for the first 24 hours. This might be the most important thing you do after getting the lamination treatment! During the procedure, your technician spread several layers of chemical relaxer cream and shaped your brows. If you get your brows wet after the process, your brows don't have a chance to set and the style won't last long.^{[1]
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- Some technicians recommend keeping your brows dry for at least 48 hours, so ask your technician what they advise.
- It's completely fine to get your brows wet after the first day! If you get them wet within the first 24 hours though, you may want to talk with your technician about setting them again.
2
Resist the urge to touch your eyebrows. This is really hard, we know! Unfortunately, when you touch your brows, you introduce oil from your fingers and this can clog the pores in your brows.^{[2]
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- Try to distract yourself if you keep reaching for your brows. Pick something to do that keeps your hands busy, like a craft project, playing an instrument, or cooking something.
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3
Skip makeup for 24 hours after getting your brows done. It can feel challenging to go makeup-free for a day, but remember, it's worth it. You want to avoid makeup since it can be oily and might clog your pores.^{[3]
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- Your skin is also sensitive right now so give it a chance to recover from the procedure.
4
Wait 2 days before you wash your face so your eyebrows don't get wet. This is probably one of the hardest things about laminating your brows! As tempting as it is, it's not a good idea to wash your face since your brows will get wet. Instead, use a cleansing wipe to clean your face so you don't have to splash it with water.^{[4]
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- Once you've waited a few days, it's totally fine to wash your face. Just try not to rub your brows when you do it.
5
Avoid swimming, showering, or sweating excessively. Again, you don't want moisture or oil anywhere near your brows for the first day after the procedure. This means no swimming, saunas, steamy showers, or intense workouts.^{[5]
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- It's totally fine to do these things a few days after getting your brows done. By then, your brows will be set and it's okay to get them wet.
6
Try to sleep on your back so you don't press on your brows at night. This might seem like weird advice, but if you usually sleep on your side, the pillow presses against your face and you might bend a few brow hairs. For the first night, try to sleep on your back. You might put bolsters or body pillows on your sides so it's harder to turn on your side while you sleep.^{[6]
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- Can't sleep on your back? Don't stress! Just check your brows first thing in the morning and try to brush any bent hairs back into place.
7
Avoid using exfoliating products or retinoids around your brows for 3 days. If your brows feel extra-sensitive for a few days after the procedure, it's totally normal. The chemicals in brow lamination can also dry out your skin a little, which is why you shouldn't immediately use products like retin-A, alpha hydroxy acid, or harsh exfoliants that peel away the top layer of your skin. Wait at least 3 days and remember to keep the product away from your brows.^{[7]
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- If your brows still feel really dry 3 days after the procedure, you may want to wait until they don't feel sensitive before you use a retinoid or exfoliate.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Everyday Maintenance

1
Dab brow conditioner or nourishing oil onto your brows every day. Since dry skin is a common side effect, moisturizing your brows is important. Wait 2 days after your procedure and then soak a cotton pad with brow conditioner from your technician. If they didn't give you any, don't worry! Get a super-nourishing oil like castor, coconut, argan, or avocado oil. Then, dab the cotton pad into your brows so the hairs absorb the oil. Do this every day to keep your brows looking their best.^{[8]
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2
Shape your brows twice a day with an eyebrow brush. Laminated brows are super low-maintenance since they hold their shape on their own. If you spot any stray hairs, just use a brow brush to comb your brows in the direction the hairs are growing.^{[9]
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- For example, brush the brows up towards your forehead and then brush them towards your temple as they taper.
3
Brush on clear brow gel to give them a slight sheen. If you're going for a dewy, youthful style, clear brow gel can finish your look. Just brush the clear gel into your shaped, laminated brows and you're all set!^{[10]
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- Don't have time to apply brow gel? No worries. It's totally fine to skip this step since your brows are already set in place. The gel just gives a little extra shine.
4
Apply brow makeup as usual if you want to darken your brows. As long as you've waited a full day for your brows to set, you can totally use your favorite makeup! Fill in your brows with a brow pencil, powder, or cream, depending on whatever you usually use.^{[11]
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- Don't be afraid to wash your brows. As long as you've waited at least 24 hours after the procedure, you can wash with your favorite cleanser.

Warnings

Although laminated brows are great for a lot of people, you shouldn't get the procedure if you have dermatitis or eczema.^{[12]
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